Free Of Hearts And Stars (Classic Editon) (The Cadet Starship Chronicles) by Edward West Page B

the odds, he would have to wait until next year and apply again. Corrigin's applicant Student Crew sat in the lobby and watched as their spirits sunk lower and lower; the matches going by with no drop outs or disqualifications. To make matters worse, an upperclassman, hell bent on acting the part of a troll, walked into the lobby.
    “ What's wrong kids?” he asked “Why so sad?”
    Corrigin noticed a silver pair of wings on his uniform collar, and noted that silver wings meant Student Captain. The Silver Fifty Three next them indicated that this guy was a member of Student Crew number Fifty Three.
    “ We might not get to take our field exam this year.” A dark haired girl, another member of the applicant Student Crew, answered.
    Captain Fifty Three smirked and said “That's okay. A bunch of baddies like you all never would of passed anyway.”
    “ What the hell?” asked an applicant Student Crew member with thick glasses “You don't even know us!”
    “ Uhh, shut up Goggles. Your collar is a bit too light weight to be yappin at me like that.” Captain Fifty Three said and popped his collar for emphasis.
    Someone spoke up from behind Captain Fifty Three and said “Those don't mean a thing.”
    Corrigin looked around the lobby. He thought he recognized that voice from somewhere.
    Without looking to see who had spoken, Captain Fifty Three asked “What would you know, noob?”
    “ Anyone can buy those at the student store, scrub.” said the familiar voice.
    Captain Fifty Three turned to yell at whoever had the nerve to disrespect him like this “Do you know who-” he began to say, but promptly fell silent.
    Leoric Swift was walking down the stairway from the upper floor of the lobby, hands in pockets and a wry smile on his face.
    Captain Fifty Three frowned “What are you doing here Swift?” he asked him.
    “ I'm here to step on you.” Swift declared.
    “ What!?”
    “ Here I was watching the field exams, seeing tomorrow's talent today, and what do I overhear? Wilson Johnson picking on people.” Swift leaned forward and said in a cold whisper “Makes me wanna break your stuff.”
    “ You- you can't!” Wilson cried and took a step back.
    “ Oh but I can!” Swift said and took a step forward.
    Wilson turned to run, but Swift caught him by the collar and swung him back around.
    “ Wilson Johnson, Captain of Student Crew number Fifty Three, I hereby challenge you to a duel!” Swift said as he removed a white glove from his left coat pocket. Just like the days of old, and in true gentlemanly manner, he proceeded to slap Wilson across the face with the white glove “ I demand satisfaction!”
    The applicant crew let out a cheer as Swift issued the challenge. Most of the members of the applicant Student Crew, being new cadets as well, had never met Swift, so for a first impression there was something about him that they already liked. However, their first impression of Wilson certainly did not go well for the Captain of Student Crew number Fifty Three. Corrigin did recall the fight in the bathroom from a few days ago; he had seen first hand what Swift is capable of. If he is as good with ships as he is with his fists, then this duel will be awesome, Corrigin thought.
    Wilson stopped struggling and slumped his shoulders.
    “ What are your terms?” He asked.
    “ I wager my ship, LaCroix, against your crew's rank.”
    The applicant student crew began to murmur among each other with excitement. In a study guide Corrigin read the following: Match loss resulted in a drop of rank unless otherwise noted by a governing official. Furthermore, wagers can stack with this rule, resulting in a double drop of rank if a loss incurs and the terms allow.
    Since this challenge contained a wager, it fell under this rule. Corrigin had a feeling that crew number Fifty Three must be B-Rank, and with that being the case, his applicant crew might have the chance for an opponent for their field exam.
    “ No sweat. I just need